Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Completion requirements
Knowing how to change discriminatory attitudes and behaviors is knowing how they develop in the first place. This text explores how people become prejudiced and how it becomes embedded in society. It looks at prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination in terms of social psychology rather than how they directly impact business. You will learn how to reduce discrimination, and while you may not be able to change society, there are practical tips on dealing with specific instances.
Reducing Discrimination
Key Takeaways
- Changing our stereotypes and prejudices is not easy, and attempting to suppress them may backfire. However, with appropriate effort, we can reduce our tendency to rely on our stereotypes and prejudices.
- One approach to changing stereotypes and prejudice is by changing social norms - for instance, through education and laws enforcing equality.
- Prejudice will change faster when it is confronted by people who see it occurring. Confronting prejudice may be embarrassing, but it also can make us feel that we have done the right thing.
- Intergroup attitudes will be improved when we can lead people to focus more on their connections with others. Intergroup contact, extended contact with others who share friends with outgroup members, and a common ingroup identity are all examples of this process.